Control of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) with Amblyseius swirskii on greenhouse pepper in heated and unheated plastic tunnels in the Mediterranean region of Turkey

The western flower thrip, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) poses a significant risk to many food and ornamental crops in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Chemical control has been the primary means used to control the population of F. occidentalis in protected cultivation systems in Turkey. We evaluated Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) on peppers following single releases at the rate of 50 adults per m 2 as a predator of F. occidentalis in heated and unheated plastic tunnels. The study covered the period when the peppers had started to flower. In both tunnel types, despite greater variation in day/night temperatures in unheated plastic tunnels, the F. occidentalis population was maintained at a level of fewer than 2 per flower throughout the experiments in plots where predatory mites were released. The density of the thrips infestation exceeded the action threshold of 3 thrips per flower in control plots. The results of the study show that A. swirskii is highly effective for controlling western flower thrips on sweet pepper and can provide long-term thrips control. In the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey, pepper growers who are considering releases of this predatory mite in plastic tunnels may find A. swirskii useful as a new control agent

Predicting the number of nymphal instars plus new-generation adults of the Sunn Pest from overwintered adult densities and parasitism rates

The present study evaluated the effect of overwintered adult density and egg and adult parasitism rates on the new-generation population densities of the Sunn Pest (Eurygaster integriceps Put.) under field conditions. We quantified the abundance of overwintered adult densities and egg and adult parasitism rates in 20 one-ha unsprayed wheat fields in southeastern Turkey to assess their impact on nymphal instars, plus new-generation adult densities. The number of overwintered adults per square meter and the percent of egg parasitism rates were positively and negatively correlated with new-generation densities of the Sunn Pest, respectively. The results of multiple regression analysis produced the equation Y = 15.037 + 8.287 OW (overwintered adult) - 0.235 egg PR (parasitism rate). The findings suggest that the egg parasitoids may suppress nymphal instars plus new-generation adult densities of the Sunn Pest. The findings also suggest that the present formula can be used to determine the spraying areas in which densities reach economic threshold for the integrated Sunn Pest management program in wheat fields in Turkey

Predicting the number of nymphal instars plus new-generation adults of the Sunn Pest from overwintered adult densities and parasitism rates

The present study evaluated the effect of overwintered adult density and egg and adult parasitism rates on the new-generation population densities of the Sunn Pest (Eurygaster integriceps Put.) under field conditions. We quantified the abundance of overwintered adult densities and egg and adult parasitism rates in 20 one-ha unsprayed wheat fields in southeastern Turkey to assess their impact on nymphal instars, plus new-generation adult densities. The number of overwintered adults per square meter and the percent of egg parasitism rates were positively and negatively correlated with new-generation densities of the Sunn Pest, respectively. The results of multiple regression analysis produced the equation Y = 15.037 + 8.287 OW (overwintered adult) - 0.235 egg PR (parasitism rate). The findings suggest that the egg parasitoids may suppress nymphal instars plus new-generation adult densities of the Sunn Pest. The findings also suggest that the present formula can be used to determine the spraying areas in which densities reach economic threshold for the integrated Sunn Pest management program in wheat fields in Turkey

Phthalocyanines with bromobenzenesulfanyl substituents at non-peripheral position: Preparation, photophysical and photochemical properties

Electron-donating bromobenzenesulfanyl-group-substituted phthalonitrile derivative (1) and its novel non-peripherally tetra-substituted metal-free, indium and zinc phthalocyanine complexes (2-4) have been prepared for the first time. The chemical structures of this new phthalonitrile and its phthalocyanine derivatives were characterized by UV-vis, FT-IR, NMR, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The introduction of this electron-donating sulfanyl type of non-peripheral substituent accounts for a remarkable red shift of the phthalocyanine Q band to approximately 730 nm. Photophysical and photochemical properties of the novel functional complexes were also examined as photosensitizers for PDT applications

Economic threshold for the sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Put. (Hemiptera : Scutelleridae), on wheat in southeastern Turkey

The sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), is the most important insect pest of wheat and barley in Turkey. To redefine an economic threshold (ET) for the sunn pest, we determined the yield loss as the result of white spike damage caused by overwintered adults and kernel damage by nymphs and new-generation adults in wheat fields. Studies conducted in 17 one-ha insecticide-free wheat fields showed that white spike damage occurred at low levels (0.1-1.7%). Regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between overwintered adult density and white spike damage and between percent kernel damage and sedimentation value. The relationship between overwintered adult density and white spike damage was not significant in bread and durum wheat. Mean kernel damage was 2.2% and 6.6% in bread wheat and 8.0% and 2.8% in durum wheat in 2002 and 2003, respectively. There was a positive relationship between nymph and new-generation adult density and kernel damage using regression analysis in bread and durum wheat. Sedimentation values were 18-82 and 7-89 in 2002 and 2003 in bread wheat, and 9-22 and 9-28 in 2002 and 2003 in durum wheat. No effect of sunn pest density on gluten strength up to 2.1% kernel damage in bread wheat or up to 0.9% kernel damage in durum wheat was detected, but kernel damages greater than these levels limited dough quality. When these limit values were used, economic thresholds were 8.1 and 9.2 nymphs/m(2) in bread and durum wheat. The current ET (10 nymphs/m(2)) may be lowered to 8-9 nymph/m(2) for some wheat varieties and regions, especially for low-yield levels (approximately 2000-2500 kg/ha) in bread wheat but may still be valid for durum wheat